Patent GB-475037-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to record card controlled tabulating machines
Filed: 1936-05-07
Abstract: 475,037. Statistical machines. McCLURE, E. C. May 7, 1936, No. 12968. [Class 106 (i)] A record - card - controlled tabulator comprises means for receiving simultaneously a plurality of records from the same column of a single card, means for segregating in turn, each of the several records from the rest of the records in the said column and a printing means settable from each successively segregated record. For each card column there are 36 reading pins 2 in the pin box 1, 36 connection wires 9, twelve bars 10 and twelve stops 11 in the stop basket which coacts with the swinging type sector. That is, the wires 2 (and 9) are arranged in twelve groups of three, there being three hole positions in the part (one twelfth) of a card column, usually occupied by only one hole position, so. that three separate records may be entered in a single card column. In each group of three hole positions, the three positions have exactly the same values but are read successively as described below. Transverse lugs 14 on the wires 9 coact with twelve lugs 13 on a bar 12, of which there is one for each card column. Normally each lug 13 is to the left of the first lug 14 of the corresponding set of three. The bars 12 are carried in an inner frame 19a, 18 which is reciprocable vertically within an outer frame 17 by plates 20 on the inner frame, pin 22, arm 23 and a shaft 24 which is rocked once for each cycle of the shaft 2a driving the pin box 1. The outer frame is reciprocated horizontally in slots in the casing 7 by linkage 17c, 25, 26, 25a, 25b driven from a cam 27 on a shaft 28 connected to the shaft 2a. Cam 27 has three successive cam surfaces 27b, 27c, 27d, which move parts 17, 19a, 12 in three steps to the right so that lugs 13 coact in turn with the first, second and third pins 9 of each set of three. The pin box 1 makes one reciprocation for three cycles of the printing and adding mechanism ; it rises during the first of these three cycles and descends in the third cycle. When a card is read by pins 2, various wires 9 are raised so that their lugs 14 are now above the line of travel of lugs 13. Frame 17 is then moved one step to the right so that each lug 13 is in line with the lugs 14 on the first wire 9 of each group of three. Arm 23 then raises frame 19a, 18 and the lugs 13 raise further any first wires 9, whose lugs 14 are over the lugs 13. Such wires 9 then raise the corresponding bars 10 and stops 11. The type sectors swing to the left and take their settings from the stops and printing is effected. The frame 19a, 18 is then lowered so that wires 9 are restored to their initial raised positions. The pin box being still up, the cam 27 then moves lugs 13 a second step to the right and the above process is repeated for lifting the second wires, 9 in the groups of three. Subsequently the third step of bars 12 to the right &c. effects the third printing, after which the pin box is lowered and the card passes out of the plates 6. In this way three lines of printing may be effected from a single card in one complete sensing operation, e.g. to print a name and address. Instead of holding the pin box up during three printing cycles, a modified form of the pin box described in Specification 401,012 may be used wherein the shutter for locking the pins is operated independently of the reciprocation of the pin box so that the setting of the pins is retained after the pin box has descended. The card may thus be fed out and a new card fed in during the actual printing. Alternatively, the setting of the stops may be locked in the stop basket itself. Specification 454,857, [Group XVI], also is referred to.